Triggering display of application

ABSTRACT

A method and system are provided for triggering display of an application. The method includes: in response to receiving a gesture denoting an approximate closed region or a closed region on a display screen, determining a non-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture on the display screen; displaying shortcuts of at least one application in the non-full-screen display region; and in response to a user selecting one of the shortcuts, launching an application corresponding to the selected shortcut, and displaying an interface of the application in the non-full-screen display region.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of computer user interfaces,and more specifically, to a method and a system for triggering displayof an application.

A touch screen in a smart device has become more and more widespread,and multi-task systems have been achieved in some smart devices.Existing multi-task systems usually utilize a split screen layout todisplay interfaces of multiple applications. FIG. 2 illustrates ascreenshot of an example of multi-task system of a smart device in theprior art. In the screenshot of the smart device shown in FIG. 2,interfaces of multiple (for example, 4) applications are displayedsimultaneously, and interfaces of the 4 applications occupy ¼ of thescreen respectively. This split screen layout is predefined, and theposition and size of the interface of each individual application thatis initially displayed are fixed and cannot be defined by a user,thereby lacking flexibility.

In addition, in smart devices of the prior art, operation of triggeringsuch split screen display of multiple applications is troublesome. Forexample, in a case where only a first application at the upper leftcorner in FIG. 2 is executed in the smart device (at this time, theinterface of the first application is displayed in a full screen), if asecond application at the upper right corner in FIG. 2 is to be launchedto be executed simultaneously with the first application, firstly, itmay be necessary, at this time, to return to the desktop of the systemby e.g., pressing the Home key of the smart device or performing otheroperations. Then, if there are multiple pages of the desktop, it is alsonecessary to slide the desktop to turn pages to find the shortcut of thesecond application. When the shortcut of the second application isfound, the second application is launched by tapping the shortcut of thesecond application on the current page of the desktop such that thesecond application and the first application are displayed in a splitscreen. At this time, the first application and the second applicationmay occupy, for example, a half screen, respectively. If a thirdapplication and a fourth application at the lower part in FIG. 2 arealso launched and executed simultaneously, it is necessary to repeat theabove operations in order, that is, pressing the Home key, sliding thedesktop multiple times, tapping the corresponding shortcut. As shown inFIG. 2, interfaces of the first application to the fourth applicationdisplayed through the above operations are shown. Here, displaypositions and sizes of interfaces of respective applications arepredefined and fixed, and cannot be specified by the user. In addition,such a method of triggering display-in-one-screen of multiple tasksneeds to perform operations of many steps, thereby making the user'soperation overcomplicated.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method is providedfor triggering display of an application. The method includes: inresponse to receiving a gesture denoting an approximate closed region ora closed region on a display screen, determining a non-full-screendisplay region corresponding to the gesture on the display screen;displaying shortcuts of at least one application in the non-full-screendisplay region; and in response to a user selecting one of theshortcuts, launching a first application corresponding to the selectedshortcut and displaying an interface of the first application in thenon-full-screen display region.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system isprovided for triggering display of an application. The system includes amemory, and a processing device communicatively coupled to the memory.The system performs a method, which includes: in response to receiving agesture denoting an approximate closed region or a closed region on adisplay screen, determining a non-full-screen display regioncorresponding to the gesture on the display screen; displaying shortcutsof at least one application in the non-full-screen display region; andin response to a user selecting one of the shortcuts, launching a firstapplication corresponding to the selected shortcut and displaying aninterface of the first application in the non-full-screen displayregion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Through a more detailed description of the one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings, thepresent disclosure will become more apparent, where the same referencegenerally refers to the same component in different figures, andwherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary computer system or server 12, which mayimplement one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a multi-task systemdisplay on a smart device in the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for triggering display of anapplication according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of drawing a trace on a display screen ofan electronic device implementing one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates calculation and adjustment of a closed region formedby the trace in FIG. 4 to obtain a non-full-screen display region havinga regular shape, in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of displaying shortcuts of at least oneapplication in a non-full-screen display region, according to one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an automatic adjustment in a case wherethere are multiple non-full-screen display regions, according to one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of drawing a closed region in an existingnon-full-screen display region, according to one or more aspects of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of swapping display regions of differentapplications by making a specific gesture, according to one or moreaspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a system for triggering displayof an application, according to one or more aspects of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more aspects of the present invention are described below in moredetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note, in thisregard, that the present disclosure can be implemented in variousmanners, and thus should not be construed to be limited to theembodiments depicted herein.

Since the method of launching an application by tapping the shortcut onthe desktop has become a commonly used operation manner for a user tolaunch an application, few people can think of improving this. However,through research, it has been found that, by changing this commonly usedoperation manner, the flexibility of enabling a user to freely determinethe display region of the launched application can be achieved. Also,display-in-one-screen of multiple applications can be triggered moreeasily.

In view of the initially-described problems, the present invention aimsat providing a method and a system for triggering display of anapplication in which the flexibility of enabling the user to freelydetermine the display region of the launched application can beachieved. In addition, the method and the system for triggering displayof an application according to the present invention can also triggerdisplay-in-one-screen of multiple applications more easily.

Refer now to FIG. 1, where an exemplary computer system/server 12 isshown, which may implement one or more aspects of the present invention.Note that computer system/server 12 is provided by way of illustrationonly, and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope ofuse or functionality of embodiments of the invention described herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 is shown in the form of ageneral-purpose computing device. The components of computersystem/server 12 may include, but not be limited to, one or moreprocessors or processing units 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 thatcouples various system components including system memory 28 toprocessor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

With reference now to FIG. 3, a flowchart is shown illustrating oneembodiment of a method 300 for triggering display of an application,according to one or more aspects of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, method 300 may include a region determination step 310, adisplay step 320 and an application launch step 330. Hereinafter,respective steps of the method 300 are explained in detail.

In the region determination step 310, in response to receiving a gesturedenoting an approximate closed region or a closed region on a displayscreen, a non-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture isdetermined on the display screen. Here, the display screen is includedin an electronic device, and the electronic device may be an electronicdevice such as a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop or a desktop computer,etc. A user may make the gesture with a pointer which may be a touchpen, a finger or a mouse pointer, etc. In one embodiment, the displayscreen itself is covered with a touch device and forms a touch screentogether with the touch device, and a user makes a gesture by touchingthe touch screen. In another embodiment, a user may make a gesture bytouching a touch device which is separate from the display screen (e.g.,a touchpad). In another embodiment, a user may also make a gesture bymanipulating a mouse (hereinafter, an action of the user drawing a traceon a display screen by manipulating a mouse is also considered one ofgestures).

In the region determination step 310, determination of thenon-full-screen display region is triggered in response to the user'sgesture, and the user's gesture is made in a state where the electronicdevice displays a first interface on its display screen. In one or moreembodiments, the interface displayed on the display screen beforereceiving the gesture (the first interface) may be the desktop of theoperating system. That is, when the display screen displays the desktopof the operating system, the user makes a specific gesture with apointer, which may trigger execution of the method 300. In one or moreother embodiments, when the electronic device is executing anapplication (i.e., a second application mentioned below), the firstinterface includes the interface of this application. In this state, theuser makes a specific gesture with a pointer, which may also triggerexecution of the method 300. In addition, the gesture may be pinch withfingers or may be drawing a trace with a finger, a touch pen or a mousepointer.

In one or more embodiments, the gesture is a pinch, where the user makesa pinch gesture with two fingers on the touch device. This gesture maydenote e.g., a rectangle (i.e., a closed region). For example, contactpoints of these two fingers with the touch device may be determined asdiagonal apexes of the rectangle such that position and size of therectangle are determined. As these two fingers pinch out, the rectanglewill become larger; and as these two fingers pinch in, the rectanglewill become smaller. Alternatively, this gesture may denote e.g., acircle (i.e., a closed region). For example, contact points of these twofingers with the touch device may be determined as two ends of thediameter of the circle such that position and size of the circle aredetermined. As these two fingers pinch out, the circle will becomelarger; and as these two fingers pinch in, the circle will becomesmaller. When the fingers leave the touch device, the gesture iscompleted, and based on final contact points of these two fingers withthe touch device before the fingers leave the touch device, anon-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture isdetermined on the display screen. In such an embodiment, the closedregion denoted by the gesture is the determined non-full-screen displayregion. Here, although only examples of a rectangle and a circle aregiven as above, the non-full-screen display region may also include anellipse, a square, etc. In one or more embodiments, the non-full-screendisplay region determined by the pinch gesture may be adjusted, e.g., toprevent the non-full-screen display region from going beyond theboundary of the display screen.

In one or more other embodiments, the gesture is drawing a trace,including drawing a trace with a pointer such as a finger, a touch penor a mouse pointer, etc. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of drawing atrace on a display screen 404 of an electronic device 402. In theexample shown in FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, a finger isused as the pointer for explanation, and in the depicted example, theuser drew a trace 408 with a finger 406. In this embodiment, it isnecessary to detect and record the trace through which the finger goes,for example, record the trace as consecutive coordinate points. Whiledetecting and recording the trace, it is judged whether the tracethrough which the user uses the pointer to go on the touch device formsan approximate closed region or a closed region. Specifically, forexample, by detecting whether a point where a trace arrives lateroverlaps with a coordinate of a former point in the trace, it may bejudged that whether the trace forms a closed region. For example, in acase where there is no overlapping point in the trace, by detecting thatthe ratio of the smallest distance (i.e., the opening) between a pointwhere the trace ends and other points in the trace to the length of thetrace itself is smaller than a threshold, it may be judged that thetrace forms an approximate closed region. The trace 408 in FIG. 4contains an overlapping point, thus it is judged that it forms a closedregion. Here, only a simple method of judging whether a trace forms aclosed region or an approximate closed region is given, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to employother graphical algorithms well known in the art to achieve the samegoal.

In this embodiment, determining the non-full-screen display regioncorresponding to the gesture on the display screen includes performingcalculation and adjustment based on an approximate closed region or aclosed region denoted by the gesture to obtain the non-full-screendisplay region having a regular shape. FIG. 5 illustrates thenon-full-screen display region having a regular shape obtained byperforming calculation and adjustment on the closed region formed by thetrace 408 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the trace 408 forms a closed region andis indicated by a solid line (a hand-drawn rectangle), and thenon-full-screen display region after calculation and adjustment isindicated by a dotted line. In one example, it may be judged whether asegment of a trace is approximate to a line segment based on thedispersion of the X coordinate or the Y coordinate of each point in thesegment of the trace. When the dispersion of the X coordinate of eachpoint in the segment of the trace is smaller than a specific threshold,the segment of the trace may be assumed to be a line segment vertical tothe X axis of the display screen; and when the dispersion of the Ycoordinate of each point in the segment of the trace is smaller than aspecific threshold, the segment of the trace may be assumed to be a linesegment vertical to the Y axis of the display screen. In the exampleshown in FIG. 5, the trace 408 is judged to contain four segments oftraces (equivalent to four sides of the hand-drawn rectangle). Then, fortwo segments of traces at the top side and the bottom side, averages ofY coordinates thereof are calculated respectively so as to obtain Ycoordinates of the top side and the bottom side of the rectangularnon-full-screen display region; and for two segments of traces at theleft side and the right side, averages of X coordinates thereof arecalculated respectively so as to obtain X coordinates of the left sideand the right side of the rectangular non-full-screen display region.Here, only a simple example of calculating and adjusting a hand-drawnshape to obtain a regular shape is given. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and it is also possible to employ othergraphical algorithms well known in the art to recognize the hand-drawnshapes, such as the K-segment principal curve algorithm, etc. Inaddition, the regular shape recognized from the hand-drawn shape is notlimited to a rectangle, and may also include a circle, an ellipse, asquare, etc. In the end, in the region determination step 310, forexample, the non-full-screen display region indicated by the dotted lineshown in FIG. 5 is determined. For a case where a touch pen or a mousepointer, etc. is used as a pointer, similar to the above case where thefinger is used as a pointer, the non-full-screen display regioncorresponding to the made gesture is determined.

Next, in the display step 320, shortcuts of at least one application aredisplayed in the non-full-screen display region. FIG. 6 illustrates anexample of displaying shortcuts of at least one application in anon-full-screen display region according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 6, as one example, shortcuts of two applications aredisplayed in a non-full-screen display region indicated by a dottedline.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, displayingshortcuts of at least one application in the non-full-screen displayregion includes displaying shortcuts of most all applications installedin the electronic device in the non-full-screen display region. Thenumber of shortcuts displayed in the non-full-screen display region isnot limited by the example in FIG. 6, but will be limited by the size ofthe non-full-screen display region. Consequently, it is possible todisplay only a part of shortcuts. When it is not possible to display allshortcuts in the non-full-screen display region, it is necessary toslide in the non-full-screen display region with a pointer to displayother shortcuts which are not displayed.

Taking the case in FIG. 6 as an example, when the user uses a pointersuch as a finger to slide to the left along an arrow 610 in thenon-full-screen display region, shortcuts displayed in the region willalso slide to the left such that originally displayed shortcutsdisappear and new shortcuts appear from the right side for selection bythe user. Likewise, when the user uses a pointer such as a finger toslide to the right along an arrow 620 in the non-full-screen displayregion, shortcuts displayed in the region will also slide to the rightsuch that originally displayed shortcuts disappear and new shortcutsappear from the left side for selection by the user. FIG. 6 gives onlyan example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In anotherembodiment, a method of sliding up and down may also be employed.

In the one or more embodiments mentioned above, when the electronicdevice is executing an application (i.e., a second application), thefirst interface includes the interface of this application. In thisstate, the user determines a non-full-screen display region by making aspecific gesture. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a portionoutside the dotted line frame (the non-full-screen display region) inFIG. 6 is displaying the interface of the second application. In thisembodiment, displaying shortcuts of at least one application in thenon-full-screen display region includes displaying only shortcuts ofapplications relevant to the second application in the non-full-screendisplay region. Hereinafter, an application (i.e., the secondapplication) within the interface of which a gesture is made to open anon-full-screen display region is referred to as a parent application,and an application (i.e., a first application to be described in detailin the following step 330) to be launched by selecting a shortcut in thenon-full-screen display region is referred to as a child application. Inthis embodiment, the child application to be launched is relevant to theparent application being executed. For example, the meaning of beingrelevant includes: when the parent application is a shoppingapplication, the child application may be a payment application; whenthe parent application is a photographing application, the childapplication may be a photo beautifying application; and so on. Here,only several examples are given, relevance of applications is notlimited to these examples. Relevance of an application with otherapplications may be automatically or manually stored in storage of anelectronic device when the application is installed. In this way, whenthe parent application is executed, if a gesture is made to open anon-full-screen display region, according to stored relevance of theapplication, only shortcuts of applications relevant to the parentapplication are displayed in the non-full-screen display region toselect the child application thereof rather than displaying shortcuts ofall installed applications. By doing so, operation efficiency can beimproved, and user experience can be improved. Generally, the number ofrelevant applications of one application is not large, and by employingthe present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of timesslide in the non-full-screen display region significantly, therebyreducing time taken for looking for a desired shortcut. Of course, inone or more embodiments, even when there is a parent application,shortcuts of all installed applications may also be displayed in thenon-full-screen display region.

Next, in the application launch step 330, in response to a userselecting one of the shortcuts with a pointer, a first applicationcorresponding to the selected shortcut is launched and the interface ofthe first application is displayed in the non-full-screen displayregion. In a case where there is a parent application, the firstapplication is the child application of the parent application and isrelevant to the parent application. In one or more embodiments, when theparent application owns only one relevant application, the step ofdisplaying shortcuts (step 320) may be skipped, and the relevantapplication may be started directly in the non-full-screen displayregion. In addition, in one embodiment according to the presentinvention, in the step 320, in a state where shortcuts of at least oneapplication are displayed in the non-full-screen display region, ifthere is not any operation input for a predetermined period of time, thenon-full-screen display region will be closed.

In one or more implementations, there may be multiple non-full-screendisplay regions on the display screen simultaneously. That is, in a casewhere at least one non-full-screen display region has been alreadyopened by performing steps of the above described method 300, byrepeating steps of the method 300, additional non-full-screen displayregion may also be opened. In a case where there are multiplenon-full-screen display regions, automatic adjustment may be performedon the display layout.

In one or more embodiments, in a case where the first interface (i.e.,the interface displayed before making the gesture) has containedadditional at least one non-full-screen display region, determining thenon-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture on thedisplay screen includes adjusting locations and/or sizes of at least oneof the additional at least one non-full-screen display region, thenon-full-screen display region being determined and the interfacecovered by them automatically such that respective non-full-screendisplay regions do not affect display of the interface covered by them.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of automatic adjustment in a case wherethere are multiple non-full-screen display regions according to anembodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 7, thecovered interface is initially displayed in a full screen. Then, anon-full-screen display region x is opened on the covered interface bythe method 300. At this time, the display interface of the displayscreen corresponds to the above described first interface, and the firstinterface includes the covered interface displayed in a full screen aswell as the non-full-screen display region x covering it. Then, when anon-full-screen display region y is opened by the method 300, it may bejudged whether the area of the part of the covered interface which iscovered by the region x and the region y exceeds a predetermined ratioor whether important elements in the covered interface are blocked. Ifthe result of judging is yes, then the location and/or size of thecovered interface are adjusted, for example, the covered interface isshrunk to be displayed in the left half of the display screen (at thistime, the covered interface which is initially displayed in a fullscreen has become a non-full-screen display region). Then, when anon-full-screen display region z is further opened by the method 300, itmay be judged whether the area of the covered interface which is coveredby the region x, the region y or the region z exceeds a predeterminedratio or whether important elements in the covered interface areblocked. If the result of judging is yes, the location and/or size ofthe covered interface are adjusted, for example, the covered interfaceis shrunk to be displayed in the lower left part of the display screen(as shown in FIG. 7). FIG. 7 gives only a simple example of automaticadjustment. In an embodiment according to the present invention, inaddition to the covered interface, locations and/or sizes of the regionx, the region y and/or the region z may be adjusted such that respectivenon-full-screen display regions do not affect display of the interfacecovered by them. In a simple example, before the non-full-screen displayregion is determined in the above described step 310, information ofother non-full-screen display regions (e.g., including locations, sizesof the regions, or locations, sizes of important elements in theregions, etc.) may be received, and then, in the step 310, automaticadjustment is performed based on the information to determine thenon-full-screen display region and other non-full-screen displayregions.

In one or more embodiments according to the present invention, onenon-full-screen display region may be opened in another non-full-screendisplay region. In the region determination step 310 of the method 300,in a case where it is judged that the approximate closed region orclosed region is located within an existing non-full-screen displayregion, determining the non-full-screen display region corresponding tothe gesture on the display screen includes determining thenon-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture within theexisting non-full-screen display region on the display screen. FIG. 8illustrates an example of drawing a closed region in an existingnon-full-screen display region according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a non-full-screen displayregion 802 has been generated by the method 300, and a first applicationis displayed within the non-full-screen display region 802. At thistime, it is possible draw a trace 804 by a pointer such as a fingerwithin the region 802 such that another non-full-screen display regionis triggered to be opened. In one or more embodiments, a thirdapplication relevant to the first application may be displayed in theanother non-full-screen display region.

In one or more embodiments, the display regions of the above-describedfirst application and second application can be swapped by making aspecific gesture. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of swapping displayregions of different applications by making a specific gesture accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG.9, for example, by performing a drag operation with fingers, e.g.,dragging the application APP1 to the display region of the applicationAPP2 or dragging the application APP2 to the display region of theapplication APP1, it is possible to achieve swapping of display regionsof these two applications. For example, such swapping may be achieved byusing a display control interface of operating system level, may beachieved by using a display driver, and may also be achieved by usingcommunication between applications (e.g., exchange of coordinates ofdisplay regions).

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a system 1000 for triggeringdisplay of an application according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 10, the system 1000 includes a region determinationdevice 1010, a display device 1020 and an application launch device1030. The region determination device 1010 is configured to determine,in response to receiving a gesture denoting an approximate closed regionor a closed region on a display screen, a non-full-screen display regioncorresponding to the gesture on the display screen. The display device1020 is configured to display shortcuts of at least one application inthe non-full-screen display region. The application launch device 1030is configured to launch, in response to a user selecting one of theshortcuts, a first application corresponding to the selected shortcutand display the interface of the first application in thenon-full-screen display region.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the gesture ispinch with fingers or drawing a trace with a finger, a touch pen or amouse pointer.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the regiondetermination device is further configured to perform calculation andadjustment based on the approximate closed region or the closed regiondenoted by the gesture to obtain the non-full-screen display regionhaving a regular shape.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, a first interfacedisplayed on the display screen before receiving the gesture is thedesktop of operating system; and in another embodiment, the firstinterface includes an interface of a second application different fromthe first application.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the display deviceis further configured to display shortcuts of all applications installedin an electronic device including the display screen in thenon-full-screen display region.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the display deviceis further configured to display only shortcuts of applications relevantto the second application in the non-full-screen display region.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the regiondetermination device is further configured to, in a case where the firstinterface has contained additional at least one non-full-screen displayregion, adjust locations and/or sizes of at least one of the additionalat least one non-full-screen display region, the non-full-screen displayregion being determined and the first interface automatically such thatrespective non-full-screen display regions do not affect display of theinterface covered by them.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the regiondetermination device is further configured to, in a case where theapproximate closed region or closed region is located within an existingnon-full-screen display region, determine the non-full-screen displayregion corresponding to the gesture within the existing non-full-screendisplay region on the display screen.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the displayregions of the first application and the second application can beswapped by making a specific gesture.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for triggering display of anapplication, the method comprising: in response to receiving a gesturedenoting an approximate closed region or a closed region on a displayscreen, determining a non-full-screen display region corresponding tothe gesture on the display screen; displaying shortcuts of at least oneapplication in the non-full-screen display region; and in response to auser selecting one of the shortcuts, launching a first applicationcorresponding to the selected shortcut and displaying an interface ofthe first application in the non-full-screen display region.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the gesture comprises at least one of a pinchwith fingers, or drawing a trace with a finger, a touch pen or a mousepointer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining thenon-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture on thedisplay screen comprises performing calculation and adjustment based onthe approximate closed region or the closed region denoted by thegesture to obtain the non-full-screen display region having a regularshape.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first interface displayed onthe display screen before receiving the gesture is the desktop ofoperating system.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a first interfacedisplayed on the display screen before receiving the gesture comprisesan interface of a second application different from the firstapplication.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the displaying shortcutsof at least one application in the non-full-screen display regioncomprises displaying only shortcuts of applications relevant to thesecond application in the non-full-screen display region.
 7. The methodof claim 5, wherein in a case where the first interface contains anadditional at least one non-full-screen display region, the determiningthe non-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture on thedisplay screen comprises adjusting locations and/or sizes of at leastone of the additional at least one non-full-screen display region, thenon-full-screen display region determined or the first interfaceautomatically such that respective non-full-screen display regions donot affect display of the interface covered by them.
 8. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the display regions of the first application and thesecond application can be swapped by making a pre-set user gesture. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying shortcuts of at least oneapplication in the non-full-screen display region comprises displayingshortcuts of all applications installed in an electronic device whichincludes the display screen in the non-full-screen display region. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein in a case where the approximate closedregion or the closed region is located within an existingnon-full-screen display region, the determining the non-full-screendisplay region corresponding to the gesture on the display screencomprises determining the non-full-screen display region correspondingto the gesture within the existing non-full-screen display region on thedisplay screen.
 11. A system for triggering display of an application,the system comprising: a memory; and a processing device communicativelycoupled to the memory, wherein the system performs a method comprising:in response to receiving a gesture denoting an approximate closed regionor a closed region on a display screen, determining a non-full-screendisplay region corresponding to the gesture on the display screen;displaying shortcuts of at least one application in the non-full-screendisplay region; and in response to a user selecting one of theshortcuts, launching a first application corresponding to the selectedshortcut and displaying an interface of the first application in thenon-full-screen display region.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein thegesture comprises at least one of a pinch with fingers, or drawing atrace with a finger, a touch pen or a mouse pointer.
 13. The system ofclaim 11, wherein determining the non-full-screen display regioncorresponding to the gesture on the display screen comprises calculationand adjustment based on the approximate closed region or the closedregion denoted by the gesture to obtain the non-full-screen displayregion having a regular shape.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein afirst interface displayed on the display screen before receiving thegesture is the desktop of operating system.
 15. The system of claim 11,wherein a first interface displayed on the display screen beforereceiving the gesture comprises an interface of a second applicationdifferent from the first application.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the displaying shortcuts of at least one application in thenon-full-screen display region comprises displaying only shortcuts ofapplications relevant to the second application in the non-full-screendisplay region.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the display regionsof the first application and the second application can be swapped bymaking a pre-set user gesture.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein thedisplaying shortcuts of at least one application in the non-full-screendisplay region comprises displaying shortcuts of all applicationsinstalled in an electronic device which includes the display screen inthe non-full-screen display region.
 19. The system of claim 11, whereinin a case where the first interface contains an additional at least onenon-full-screen display region, the determining the non-full-screendisplay region corresponding to the gesture on the display screencomprises adjusting locations and/or sizes of at least one of theadditional at least one non-full-screen display region, thenon-full-screen display region determined or the first interfaceautomatically such that respective non-full-screen display regions donot affect display of the interface covered by them.
 20. The system ofclaim 11, wherein in a case where the approximate closed region or theclosed region is located within an existing non-full-screen displayregion, the determining the non-full-screen display region correspondingto the gesture on the display screen comprises determining thenon-full-screen display region corresponding to the gesture within theexisting non-full-screen display region on the display screen.